Show Review: Tiesto @ The Staples Center

Ledgendary DJ/producer sells out Staples Center

Everyone was buzzing with excitement as thousands of people streamed towards the bright, spotlight-circled Staples center. The occasion? Tiesto (aka Tijs Michiel Verwest) finally returning to Los Angeles for the first time since his sold-out College Invasion Tour in 2011.

Alvaro and Tommy Trash did a fantastic job warming up the crowd with songs like Tommy Trash’s mashup of Sebastian Ingrosso’s “Reload” with Axwell and Ingrosso’s “Together.” The enjoyable progressive electro set the stage well and kept the energy building up for the main act.

When Tiesto came on at 8:30, he opened his set with “Miami and Chasing Summers” off his Club Life Vol.2 Miami album. His well known “T” logo on the huge LED board behind him transformed into a neon montage of girls and shapes, and the crowd exploded into dance.

Throughout the incredibly special two-and-a-half hour set, I danced along as Tiesto took everyone on a musical journey, artfully utilizing a variety of EDM’s musical subgenres. He gave the crowd something to sing along to with his remix of Zedd’s “Clarity,” Calvin Harris & Florence Welch’s “Sweet Nothing,” and Tegan and Sara’s “Feel It In My Bones.” He brought out some banging electro when he dropped Sidney Samson & Martin Garrix’s “Torrent,” and of course he played some of his trance classics, such as “Adagio for Strings.”

From a production standpoint, the visuals were fantastic and the sound quality massive. The pyrotechnics were particularly mind-blowing, exploding from several locations on stage in a variety of colors. I have to say how nice it was that the floor wasn’t completely crammed full of people even though the show was sold out, providing attendees with room to dance. Attending a sold-out dance show and actually have the luxury of room to dance was refreshing and not to be taken for granted.

I was happy to see Tiesto bring Alvaro onto the stage as he started to drop the opener’s song “Make The Crowd Go.” I’ve personally seen multiple other producers, including Marcus Schossow, Dada Life, and Hardwell, ascend to fame and widespread recognition quickly after supporting Tiesto on his various tours, and I hope Alvaro is no exception.

Through his diverse track selection — ranging from Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction” to his own remix of Sarah McLachlan’s “Silence” — Tiesto moved the crowd in a way that reminded all those in attendance that he truly is a master of his craft. The entire two-and-a-half hour set possessed a vibrant energy while maintaining a continuity and flow that many younger and less experienced DJs lack.